Thank you for your kinds reviews again. This is going to be the last chapter of this little piece. I hope you liked it, I certainly enjoyed writting this thing.

Chapter Five

New Year's Eve is really nice. It's a little bit like prom night, only that more people are participating. Stewart and Wil are there, they both brought girls as well (even though Sheldon doesn't know where they have met them), Penny's ex-husband Zack and a pretty blond girl are participating as well. While he really would have liked and strongly recommended costumes, Penny explained that for once she'd like to have a normal party without dressing up as some ridiculous fictional character and Leonard agreed.

They both got a strike.

Sheldon looks down at his and Amy's intertwined fingers and can't help but brush his thumb across her knuckles. After they came home from Texas, Amy stayed the first night. Since she didn't have any clean sleeping attire, Sheldon loaned her a T-Shirt of his. Seeing her in it, one thing led to the other and soon, they were both naked and panting. The following night, Amy went home and as Sheldon had promised, he let her go. They have slept alone since then and…well, it's not working. He's come to realize he wants her next to him. Every night. Sheldon also realizes what that means.

He is ready.

He wants Amy to move in with him. Knowing that Penny and Leonard are both yearning to finally live together and the only reason they aren't is him, is only more of a cause for him to do this. But he's nervous.

On the one hand he knows his plan to ask Amy to marry him meant living together ultimately, but so much has happened since that fateful night in May. He's grown a lot and in a way, Amy has too. If they do this, Sheldon knows there's no way back. Everything will change. The routines, the apartment, everything. And he's really not good with change. Are they both really ready for this?

On the other hand, deep in his heart Sheldon has come to the conclusion that he wants to be with Amy in every way. The physical part is finally taken care of, but the really deep emotional part remains.

It's been a really long time since Amy mentioned their living arrangements. Maybe she doesn't want to live together anymore or isn't entirely ready.
He realizes they'll have to talk about this and that marriage will come up. His heart pounds madly as he thinks of Gollum and the little treasure he's protecting.

"Sheldon?" Amy's voice pulls him out of his thoughts.

"Yes?" He looks at her. Her eyes are sparkling, caused by the lights Raj's hung up all around the place.

"I know we didn't talk about it but are you okay with me spending the night? I just assumed…" She trails off and blushes and Sheldon moves closer, wrapping his arms around her.

"I really like having you in my bed, so yes, you assumed correctly."

She blushes again and somehow it makes him want to kiss her. Not even checking if somebody is watching (wow, he really has come far), he leans in and presses his lips to hers.
Amy meets him instantly. She gently puts a hand on his cheek, holding him close as their lips caress each other.

He really can't remember why he once thought kissing her should be scheduled or completely off the table. It's amazing. His left hand moves to her thigh, wandering dangerously close to her butt as he kisses her thoroughly. Sheldon is about to lose his mind when Penny's voice kills the mood.

"Wow, Shelbot, that's some steamy kissing technique you've got there. You might wanna get a room."

Opening his eyes, he moves back a little. Amy looks completely unfocused and he suspects, he isn't doing much better. Finally in control again, he turns to look at Penny.
"I already have a room. Why would I get a third one, including my childhood room at my mother's?"
Really, that woman does rarely make sense.

Penny rolls her eyes, so he looks at Amy for clarification.

"I'll tell you later," she replies, trying to righten her clothes unobtrusively.

Sheldon nods in agreement.

"Why don't you two join us on the dance floor?", Penny suggests. "Everyone is dancing but you two."

"Sheldon doesn't like dancing, Penny," Amy reminds their friend, but Sheldon for once picks up on her wistful tone and her choice of words. Does that mean she would like to? Amy is right of course, he really doesn't want to, but he's learned the hard way that there are two people in this relationship and that in order to be with her, he needs to compromise.

So he holds out his hand and asks: "Amy, would you like to dance?"

She looks very surprised, but he interprets the smile on her face as positive.
"Actually, I'd love to, Sheldon." She puts her hand into his, he pulls her up and leads the way to the dance floor.

Of course it's a slow song. Rolling his eyes, Sheldon pulls her close and Amy snuggles against him.

"Thanks for doing this, Sheldon," she says quietly, "I know you hate dancing and PDA."

He can't help but huff. "Well, that went out of the window five minutes ago, didn't it?"

Amy blushes and he groans. It's instinctive by now, really. Because any time she blushes nowadays, Sheldon thinks of sex because that's when she blushes the most. He feels Amy's hands around his neck and his own slide lower, below her hips. He closes his eyes and leans his head against hers. They sway to the song and afterwards Raj tells them through the microphone that only one hour is left until New Year's.

"Do you wish to partake in that ridiculous convention of kissing at midnight?", Sheldon asks, leaning down so Amy can understand him over the noise. She smiles up at him.

"Would I like it? Yes, undoubtedly. Do I need it to be happy? No. I know these things make you uncomfortable and I don't want you to feel pressured. So if we just sit down, hold hands and watch the fireworks erupt, I'll be very much okay with that."

Love fills his entire being. It's ridiculous how much he feels for her. "Thank you," he says and just like that, she sends another beautiful smile in his direction.

The next hour passes quickly. Instead of sitting down, they all move to the edge of the roof. Sheldon and Amy stand a little aside because he doesn't want everybody to hug him once the kissing is over. Amy is alright with that. They're together and he's letting her wrap both of her arms around his left one, so it's okay. She loves him, she really does. Spending the nights alone again has been so hard but they just got back together, so she's really afraid of spooking him by suggesting more frequent sleepovers. Once or twice a week has to be enough for now. He's not nearly ready for cohabitating and if she's being completely honest, she's a little nervous as well.

She watches as her friends giddily count down from ten.

"Six!"

Amy squeezes his arm a little and leans her cheek against his upper arm. It causes Sheldon to look down and smile at her.

"Four!"

She can't help but smile back. He seems carefree and happy. It's everything she's ever wanted for him.

"Two!"

"Amy," Sheldon suddenly whispers, still staring down at her and then he wraps the arm she's been clutching around her shoulders, pulls her close against him and kisses her. She lets out a surprised sound but quickly participates, like she always does when he kisses her. Her eyes close and she loses herself completely in him. Sheldon lets out a tiny moan and tightens his grip on her. The tip of his tongue brushes against hers, happily engaging it in a passionate dance. Amy's hands come up to clutch the lapels of the jacket he's wearing and her head begins to spin.

"Happy New Year, Shamy!", Bernadette giggles, clearly intoxicated and nudges them not so gently, forcing them to break apart and take a much needed breath.

Panting heavily, they smile stupidly at each other.

A happy new year indeed.